Wellness Policy 2020-2021 - Committee Members: Pinecrest Preparatory Academy
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www.pinecrestacademyschools.org
Wellness Policy
2020-2021
Committee Members:
The following committee members are involved in the development of this Policy and its
implementation throughout the school year.
Parent(s) : Brian Regalado and Eleni Diaz
Student(s) : Elanis Vazquez and Brandon Cajigal
School Nutrition(s): Livia Cuadrado and Alicely Ferrer
School board(s): Judith Marty
School administrator(s): Dr. Susie Dopico, Victoria Larrauri, Ana Diaz,
Elaine Clemente, Carrie Montano, Jennifer Kairalla
Physical education: Robert de Paz
Health education: Wendy Love
Health professional: Linda Delgado
General public: Lisa Perez, Jorge GonzalezPreamble
Research suggests that there is a positive correlation between a student's health and
well-being and his/her ability to learn. Pinecrest Academy, Inc. recognizes that good
nutrition and regular physical activity affect the health and well-being of all students.
Pinecrest Academy, Inc. is committed to providing nutritious meals through the schools'
meal programs, supporting the development of good eating habits and promoting
increased physical activity both in and out of school.
Physical Activity and Nutrition
Nutrition Education Goals
Nutrition. Academic performance and quality of life issues are affected by the choice
and availability of good foods in our schools. Healthy foods support student physical
growth, brain development, resistance to disease, emotional stability and ability to learn.
(a) Nutrition guidelines that require the use of products that are high in fiber,
low in added fats, sugar and sodium, and served in appropriate portion
sizes consistent with USDA standards shall be established for all foods
offered by Pinecrest Academy’s Nutrition Services Department or
contracted vendors. Menu and product selection shall utilize student,
parent, staff and committee advisory groups whenever possible.
(b) Nutrition services policies and guidelines for reimbursable meals shall not
be less restrictive than federal and state regulations require.
(c) Healthy food and beverage choices will be promoted using Smarter
Lunchroom tools and techniques.
(d) All other foods and beverages sold during the school day will meet USDA
nutrition standards.
Health Education and Life Skills. Healthy living skills will be taught as part of
the regular instructional program and provide the opportunity for all students to
understand and practice concepts and skills related to health promotion and
disease prevention.
(a) The school shall provide for an interdisciplinary, sequential skill-based
health education program based upon state standards and benchmarks.
(b) Students shall have access to valid and useful health information and
health promotion products and services.
(c) Students shall have the opportunity to practice behaviors that enhance
health and/or reduce health risks during the school day.
(d) Students shall be taught communication, goal setting and decision-making
skills that enhance personal, family and community health.Nutrition Education:
(a) Nutrition benchmarks included in Florida’s Physical Education Standards
will be taught during physical education classes and will be integrated into
other subject areas, as appropriate.
(b) Nutrition education will be taught in the classroom as well as in the dining
room.
(c) Staff will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating.
(d) Parents are encouraged to follow this Wellness Policy as guidance to
providing a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children. The
school will send home nutrition information and will encourage parents to
pack healthy lunches and snacks. The school offers support by sharing
nutritional information and educational material through the school website,
newsletter, take-home materials, and/or physical education homework.
Physical Activity Goals
A. Elementary
1. Participation in physical activity on a regular basis. Students will
participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity on a daily basis for a minimum
of 30 minutes. Twice a week the students will receive formal physical education
courses taught by a state-certified instructor. The student to teacher ratio is
comparable to other curricular areas, and State developed standards are used.
2. Participation in several physical activity programs throughout the
school year for all elementary school students. Programs Activities include:
Recess
Jump Rope For Heart
Field Day
Fitness Gram
School Sports Program
Red Ribbon / Drug Free activity
Walk-a-thon
Walk safe program
Roller skating program
B. Secondary
Students will participate and complete 80% of the activities provided below
before the end of the school year.
1. Physical Education instruction shall be provided for Secondary students
through formal physical education courses, taught by a state-certified instructor.
The student to teacher ratio is comparable to other curricular areas, and State
developed standards are used. Such instruction may also be provided through
integration into other courses, regularly scheduled intramural activities, and/or
regularly scheduled school-wide activities.2. Participation in several physical activity programs throughout the school
year for all secondary students. Program activities include:
Fitness Gram
School Sports Program (includes middle and high school athletics)
Dance Programs
Cheerleading Program
Red Ribbon / Drug Free activity
Nutrition Standards for All Foods Available on School Campus during the School Day
Nutrition services policies and guidelines for reimbursable meals shall not be less
restrictive than federal and state regulations require.
School Meals: Meals served through the National School Lunch and Breakfast
Program will:
1. Be appealing and attractive to children.
2. Be served in clean and pleasant setting.
3. Meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by local, state, and
federal statutes and regulations.
4. Offer a variety of milk including fat free flavored milk and no more than 1%
fat content.
5. Comply with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
6. Be baked, not fried.
7. Include more local fresh fruits and vegetables.
8. Include whole grain products.
Vending Machines
1. Vending machine snacks will meet USDA Smart Snacks standards.
2. Beverage vending machines where student meals are served or eaten
shall include healthier options such as 100% fruit juice and water.
3. Beverage vending machines in secondary school sites shall include non-
carbonated drinks with less than 150 calories per container and no more
than 1/3rd of the choices shall be carbonated drinks.
Other Foods Items Provided or Sold on Campus
1. High energy drinks with elevated levels of caffeine will not be available for
sale on school campus.
2. Healthy foods meeting Smart Snack standards will be encouraged at
school events.
3. Non-food items will be encouraged for fundraisers.
4. The use of food and physical activity as punishment is prohibited.
5. Classroom parties or Celebrations will be after lunch and foods that meet
Smart Snack Standards will be encouraged.
6. Competitive foods will comply will nutrition standards as required in 7CFR
210.11.
7. The School will accept bag lunches prepared from home but will not
accept food and beverage drop-offs/deliveries that originate from outside
eating establishments.Goals for Other School-Based Activities Designed to Promote Student Wellness
Pinecrest Academy integrates wellness activities across the school setting. Pinecrest
Academy promotes increased participation in school-based nutrition programs by
making the participation and the return of the application a high priority. The school will
make every effort to eliminate any social stigma attached to, and prevent the overt
identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Pinecrest
Academy promotes student well-being, optimal development and strong educational
outcomes.
The school will:
(a) Promote the availability of the same meals to all students;
(b) Establish mealtimes consistent with Federal Regulations;
(c) Prohibit the withholding of food as punishment;
(d) Compliance with drug, alcohol and tobacco free policies;
(e) Maximize the reduction of waste by reducing, reusing and recycling; and,
(f) Encourage employees to engage in daily physical activity during the workday,
such as walking around the school building either inside or outside, as part of
work breaks and/or lunch periods, before or after work hours.
Teachers will not use identifiable brand names in their nutritional instruction unless they
are found to be necessary to the lesson being taught and any commercial advertising
on school campus will comply with the Smart Snacks in School Nutrition Standards.
School personnel serve as nutrition educators and role models for healthy lifestyles.
School staff is encouraged to model healthy eating by offering healthier choices at
school meetings and events. School staff will:
(a) Encourage students to interact with family members on assignments & projects;
and
(b) Create an environment where students, parents/guardian and staff members are
accepted, respected and valued for their personal integrity.
For students to receive the nationally recommended amount of daily physical activity
and for students to fully embrace regular physical activity as a personal behavior,
students will be provided with different opportunities for physical activity. Toward this
end, the school will:
(a) Discourage sedentary activities, such as watching television; playing computer
games, etc;
(b) Provide opportunities for physical activity to be incorporated into other subject
lessons;
(c) Encourage classroom teachers to provide short physical activity breaks between
lessons or classes, as appropriate;
(d) Promote school-based health & wellness activities for students; and,
(e) Provide information about wellness resources and services to assist in identifying
and supporting the health, safety and well-being of students and staff.Goals for Measurement and Evaluation
The Principal, or the principal’s designee; will monitor compliance with the established
wellness policy by convening the Healthy School Team on a yearly basis. School
Nutrition staff will monitor compliance with nutrition policies within the school food
service area and will report on this matter to the Healthy School Team. In accordance
with the NSLP, breakfast and lunch menus will be reviewed regularly to ensure USDA
meal pattern compliance.
The Healthy School Team will ensure compliance with the policy, report on the school's
compliance and recommend revisions as necessary, to the Pinecrest Academy’s
Wellness Committee. Every three years, the Wellness Committee will conduct an
assessment and make recommendations to the Governing Board at a scheduled
governing board meeting. The governing board meeting is a public meeting as required
by Ch.119 of the Florida Statutes, relating to public records. Notice is provided to the
public prior to the meeting, giving the public an opportunity to review and offer input
regarding the revisions. The most updated version of the wellness policy is always
available on the school website for the public to view.
How well the policy is being managed and its effectiveness will be assessed every three
years. Updates will be included based on the results of the annual and triennial reviews
and as needs change. The evaluation process will address necessary changes to
nutrition education, physical activity, other school-based activities and changes to the
nutritional quality of foods available to students that have occurred as a result of the
wellness policy and as a result of new information, new standards or new guidance.
The evaluation process will answer questions relating to whether the goals stated in the
policy have been met. Basic questions that are important to policymakers, students,
school staff, parents, and the general public will be addressed in the evaluation process.
For example:
Did the school change to healthier food options?
Did participation in the Breakfast and/or Lunch Program change?
Did the school promote good eating habits and healthy food options?
Did the school provide students with opportunities to participate in a
variety of physical activities?
Did the students have a different number of minutes of physical activity?
Did the school conduct student taste testing, introducing healthier food
items?
Assessments will be repeated every three years to review policy compliance, assess
progress, and determine areas in need of improvement.You can also read
